Resume Tips

A resume is one of the most important steps to getting yourself a job – mainly because it is the first. If you have a lacklustre CV, you won’t have the opportunity to show yourself in person and try and impress a potential boss directly. Your resume must therefore truly represent you as a person, your attributes and the skills you possess that make you perfect for a job. There is a very clear art to resume writing, and if you get it wrong you can easily be discounted for a job, regardless of how suitable you may be for it. So here are some simple tips to creating a great resume that will be sure to secure you to the next stage of an interview.

1. Keep it simple stupid.

No one likes to read an essay when they’re trying to find out about an applicant, and frankly no employer will ever get through to the end of a resume that is more than two pages long. So keep it short and only include relevant information, which brings us to our next point…

2. Only provide relevant details.

Although your mum may be really proud that you achieved age champion for swimming in grade 4, your employer simply doesn’t care. Only include information about yourself that shows you are suitable and carry the necessary skills for this specific job. And only reference recent achievements that the new company would be impressed by. This includes omitting experience if it isn’t worthwhile or doesn’t make you look good.

3. Have a clear format.

Use titles effectively and write everything in bullet points. Your resume should be very clear and well-structured. If someone simply skims over the CV they should have a good understanding of you and your attributes.

4. Use concrete strengths.

Rather than including vague and ambiguous adjectives of how reliable or hard-working you are, use concrete examples of previous experience or references that prove and support such qualities.

5. Use the right keywords.

You need to cater you resume to the particular job and company you are applying for. Don’t have a generic resume that you simply send out en masse to all possible jobs. Use specific language that will resonate with that position. Read up on the firm, get to know their aims and focus specifically on the language used in the job advert.

6. Put the most important information first.

This is applicable to both the entire resume as well as within each section. Expect the employer to get bored reading masses of CVS, so make sure yours stands out by making your key strengths immediately clear. Put your most recent and relevant experience at the top.

7. Proofread, proofread, proofread!

Nothing comes across worse in an employee than not being able to spell or use correct grammar. Read over your resume at least twice to ensure everything is in tip top shape and there are absolutely no mistakes.